With over 99 million copies sold on the Switch alone, Nintendo says Pokemon has "found a new home on Nintendo Switch"

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet starters
(Image credit: Nintendo)

It's official - the Pokemon series has reportedly sold a whopping 99 million copies on just the Nintendo Switch console alone, impressively marking it as the most successful platform for the iconic creature collector franchise.

With recent titles like Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and Legends: Arceus reaching millions of fans worldwide, the company has seen a mind-boggling height of success on the Switch for the beloved series. According to recent financial results highlighted by Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa himself, this success has translated into almost 100 million copies sold on the 2017 handheld console.

"The Pokemon series, originally developed for handheld gaming systems, has also found a new home on Nintendo Switch, where the scope of sales has greatly increased," reads the report. "The cumulative sales volume for the series on Nintendo Switch is approaching 100 million units." Attached is a slide showing Pokemon titles released on the Switch as well as a "99 million units" figure showcasing the series' sales.

The figure comes "as of September," just months after Nintendo revealed that Pokemon had sold over 96 million copies and surpassed the Game Boy as the game series' most successful console ever in May. It's certainly a monumental moment for the franchise, and as a longtime fan myself, it's exciting to consider what the future could hold for Pokemon - especially with the Nintendo Switch 2 still underway.

Love the series yourself? Here's everything we know about Pokemon Legends Z-A so far.

Anna Koselke
Staff Writer

After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.

Read more
Mario faces the camera with a thumbs up pose in Super Smash Bros. Ulimate.
Nintendo Switch clears 150 million sales, closing gap with PS2 once again after Sony bumped up its own figures last year
Pokemon image of Pikachu
Pokemon "will go downhill" if "we become complacent and go with the flow" says CEO, who hopes the series could last another 70 years
Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster
The Final Fantasy series has sold a whopping 200 million copies, while the Pixel Remaster reportedly outsells FF16 with 5 million copies
Nintendo Switch 2 next to TV with controller grip and JoyCons hovering
Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives are still "very important" despite ongoing support for Switch 1, company president says
Rowlet looking stressed in the Pokemon anime.
Pokemon's myth-like status as the world's highest-grossing media franchise thrown into question as Wiki editor says it may have been surpassed and we just don't know it
Images of three Nintendo Switch Pokemon games on a purple GamesRadar patterned background.
I've been a Pokemon fan since the 90s and I'm finding it impossible to ignore these incredibly low Switch game deals at Woot
Latest in Pokemon
Pokemon Legends: Z-A screenshot
Pokemon Legends: Z-A will allegedly introduce 27 new Mega Evolutions, leakers claim, and we can only hope Flygon gets its chance this time
Pokemon TCG Pocket Shiny Cards
How to get Shiny Pokemon in Pokemon TCG Pocket
Pokemon Legends: Z-A screenshot
Pokemon Legends: Z-A's director appears to be a Xenoblade Chronicles fan, and I'm now feeling very validated about a tiny detail I spotted in the upcoming RPG's gameplay trailer
Pokemon TCG Pocket
Pokemon TCG Pocket is getting yet another new expansion as the addition of shinies and Gen 9 Pokemon keep free-to-play players drowning in new cards to collect
Pokemon TCG Pocket Shining Revelry
Pokemon TCG Pocket Shining Revelry release date and details
Pokemon GO
Despite new ownership's iffy history, Pokemon GO lead claims intrusive ads and playtime restrictions won't plague the game: "Not now, not ever"
Latest in News
Mario
A surprise bonus Nintendo Direct is coming a week early: "There will be no updates about Nintendo Switch 2 during this presentation"
God of War
20 years later, God of War's original monster art has been revealed: behold this army of stick figures slapped on a whiteboard, no clue Kratos is coming for them
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe facing off against samurai warrior on red bridge
An Assassin's Creed Shadows fan is showing off some of the RPG's most impressive little details, and it's done more to get me interested than Ubisoft ever did
The T6 Power Armor
I'm about to spend over $400 on this iconic T60 Power Armor figurine because "Communism is the very definition of failure"
A large, muscly bloke eating noodles at a bar while two people point pistols at him from behind in Cyberpunk 2077.
The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 developer enters into partnership with Pokemon Go owner to create a new game "set within one of CD Projekt's IPs"
Owen Cooper in Adolescence
Sorry, Adolescence season 2 isn't happening, despite its 99% Rotten Tomatoes score and record-breaking Netflix audience